Moldova denies: There are no “threats to military security” in Transnistria.
Russia has reiterated its warnings of alleged military provocations by Ukraine in the breakaway and pro-Russian territory of Transnistria in neighboring Moldova. In a statement on Friday, the Russian Foreign Ministry also warned the United States and other NATO countries once morest “risky steps” and threatened a military response. Moldova’s government has denied allegations that Ukraine is preparing to invade Transnistria.
“No one should doubt that the armed forces of the Russian Federation will respond appropriately to the provocation of the Kiev regime, if it does occur,” the Russian Foreign Ministry said. The State Department also reiterated Russia’s accusation that Ukraine was stationing “a large number” of soldiers and weapons at the border. As early as Thursday, Russian military spoke of possible Ukraine action once morest Transnistria, which has a population of almost half a million, without presenting any evidence. Moldova denied the reports on both occasions.
Russian troops stationed there since the 1990s
Since the 1990s, Russian soldiers have been stationed in Transnistria on the border with Ukraine, which was split off from Moldova. The Russian army will defend Russians in the area, the Russian “peacekeeping force”, the depot in Cobasna and its guards, the Foreign Ministry in Moscow has now announced. “Any action that threatens their security will be considered an attack on the Russian Federation under international law,” it said.
There are no “threats to the military security” of Transnistria, the defense ministry of the ex-Soviet Republic of Moldova, which is striving to join the EU, announced on Friday. “The Ministry of Defense monitors all events, occurrences and changes in the region.” Moldova urged citizens to “keep calm and get information only from official sources.” The Department of Defense added: “The misinformation being spread is aimed at spreading panic and confusion.”
Little Moldova has 2.6 million inhabitants with a Russian minority and is located between Romania and Ukraine. The country, which was part of the Soviet Union until 1991, has made a pro-Western turn in recent years, angering Moscow. Moldova was granted EU candidate status in 2022.
The self-proclaimed Republic of Transnistria is a narrow strip of land on the border with Ukraine that has seceded from Moldova since 1990 and has its own government and administration. Around 1,500 soldiers from the Russian army are stationed in the region, which still belongs to Moldova under international law but is controlled by pro-Russian separatists. The population of Transnistria is partly Ukrainian, partly Russian and partly Moldovan.
Since the Russian invasion of Ukraine, there has been concern in Chisinau and among its western partners that Russia might also attack Moldova as its next target. Just a few days ago, Moldovan President Maia Sandu accused Russia of pushing ahead with a concrete plan to overthrow her government in Chisinau with the help of saboteurs disguised as demonstrators. Sandu said she learned regarding the plan from Ukrainian intelligence. Moscow had denied the accusation.
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